Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
  • E04H15/00—Tents or canopies, in general
  • E04H15/32—Parts, components, construction details, accessories, interior equipment, specially adapted for tents, e.g. guy-line equipment, skirts, thresholds
  • E04H15/34—Supporting means, e.g. frames
  • E04H15/36—Supporting means, e.g. frames arch-shaped type
  • E04H15/40—Supporting means, e.g. frames arch-shaped type flexible
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10S135/00—Tent, canopy, umbrella, or cane
  • Y10S135/905—Method of erecting shelter
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T403/00—Joints and connections
  • Y10T403/71—Rod side to plate or side
  • Y10T403/7129—Laterally spaced rods
  • Y10T403/7141—Plural channels in connector

Definitions

• the present invention relates to the field of connectors for wires or monofilaments and more particularly to connectors which are used to connect wires or monofilaments which provide the frames for fast-erecting structures such as tents.
• Self-erecting structures have been known for some years.
• the salient features of self-erecting tents are loops of springy material which normally form a three- dimensional frame but which can be coiled into an essentially flat disk.
• the tent fabric is draped over and attached to these loops.
• Guy wires and tent pegs are not usually required for erecting such tents.
• Patent no. 5,163,461 was issued to Ivanovich et al. in 1992.
• Ivanovich et al. teach that coiling of prior art tents was made difficult by the torsional resistance of the continuous loops.
• Ivanovich et al. therefore designed a tent similar to the prior art but with: 1) a frame coiled into several, separated ellipses but formed from a single, continuous loop and 2) several rotatable connectors inserted at strategic points within this loop.
• the rotatable connectors are short sleeves firmly swaged to one end ofthe loop at one extremity and with the other end of the loop inserted into the other extremity.
• the arcuate bias of the loop retains the loop end within the connector while allowing for rotation ofthe loop end within the sleeve.
• Hazinski et al. teach that the connector designed by Ivanovich et al. had several deficiencies. Hazinski et al. therefore patented a different type of connector (U.S.
• Patent no. 5,407,291 in 1995.
• This connector has opposing tapered pockets. When the ends ofthe loop are fully inserted into these tapered pockets, the pockets grip the ends ofthe loop while allowing both ends to rotate.
• torsional forces must be overcome when coiling the frame.
• the floor does not lay flat after erection.
• Frames are more costly to manufacture when the frames are single continuous loops with multiple ellipses. In designs with a single loop, the frame cannot include loops of different materials and diameters.
• the present invention is a fast-erecting tent in which multiple loops connect via the same connector and the connector is designed so that the ends ofthe loops are free to slide swivel and rotate within the connector. This means that: 1) there are reduced torsional forces to overcome when coiling the frame; 2) the floor lays flat against the ground after erection; 3) frames are less costly to manufacture 4) the tent fabric can be removed from the frame for cleaning; 5) the frame can include loops of different materials and diameters; and 6) expansion and contraction of frame and fabric are compensated.
• the frame of the tent comprises: 1) a resilient, planar, filiform base, in the shape of an open loop, which defines the floor of the tent; 2) a resilient, arcuately bent, filiform upper member in the shape of an open loop; 3) a connector which links one end of the base loop plus one end ofthe upper loop to the other end ofthe base loop plus the other end ofthe upper loop; and 4) a segmented, internally biased, arch shaped tubular strut.
• the ends of the strut are slidably and rotatably connected to the base loop by means of an eye hook.
• the strut is connected to the upper loop by means of a twist clip.
• the tent fabric covering is wrapped around and attached to the frame by conventional means and can include a door and windows.
• the connector is an elongated body with a through-bore.
• the bore has the shape of multiple, parallel, partial, interconnected, right circular cylinders and is designed to retain the filiform members in the bore.
• the filiform members are can be fixed within the bore at one end of the connector but are free to slide, rotate, and swivel to the point of detachment from the bore at the other end.
• the base loop and upper loop can be substantially elliptical in shape or any other shape known in the art.
• Figure 1 shows a perspective view ofthe preferred embodiment ofthe erected tent frame.
• Figure 2 shows a perspective view of an alternate embodiment ofthe erected tent frame.
• Figure 3 is a perspective view ofthe preferred embodiment ofthe unswaged connector.
• Figure 4 is an enlarged view of the area shown in circle 4 of Figure 1, illustrating the assembly ofthe preferred embodiment ofthe connector with the tent frame loops.
• Figure 5 is a transverse cross section ofthe preferred connector, taken at 5-5on Figure 4.
• Figure 6 is an axial cross section ofthe connector, taken at 6-6 on Figure 4.
• Figure 7 is a perspective view of a tent according to this invention in its fully erected position.
• Figure 8 is an enlarged view of the area shown in circle 8 of Figure 7, illustrating connection ofthe shock strut to the upper member via a twist clip.
• Figure 9 is an enlarged view of the area shown in circle 9 of Figure 7, illustrating connection ofthe fabric to the shock strut via a sewn-in C-clip.
• Figure 10 is an enlarged view of the area shown in circle 10 of Figure 7, illustrating how the shock strut is attached to the base frame with an eye hook and how the base frame runs through pockets sewn into the tent fabric.
• Figure 1 shows the frame 10 of the tent in its fully erected state.
• the frame 10 comprises two base loops 14, two upper loops 18 and two shock struts 22.
• the base loops 14 are semi-elliptical in shape
• the upper loops 18 are shaped like upward curving semi-ellipses
• the shock struts 22 are shaped like arches.
• the base 14 and upper 18 loops can be made of any resilient filiform material such as spring wire, composite rod or high strength plastic rod.
• the shock strut 22 is of conventional design.
• the strut 22 is made of a series of tubular segments 70 of varying curvature with widened ends 74. In this way the segments 70 can be inserted into one another to form an arch shape.
• a bungee cord (not illustrated) which is retained internally at either end ofthe strut 22.
• To assemble the strut 22 it is only necessary to allow the bungee to pull all the segments 70 into engagement. To disassemble it is only necessary to pull the segments 70 away from one another
• FIG. 1 shows that the opposing, pair of base loops 14 link to form essentially a complete, planar ellipse and the opposing pair of upper loops 18 link to form a saddle shaped structure.
• the shock struts 22 are connected to the base loops 14 by eye hooks 30 and to the upper loops 18 by twist clips 34. These connections will be described in more detail below.
• the preferred embodiment ofthe connector 26 is illustrated in Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6.
• the connector 26 has an elongated body 42 with a through-bore 54.
• One end of the connector 26 is the fixed end 46 and the other is the insertable end 50.
• the bore 54 goes completely through the body 42 from one end 46 to the other 50.
• the bore 54 has the shape of multiple, parallel, partial, interconnected, right circular cylinders. In the preferred embodiment the bore 54 has the shape of two interconnected cylinders.
• Figure 3 illustrates the preferred dimensions for the preferred connector 26. Dimension A is about 3/32 in., dimension B is about 3/16 in., dimension C is about 5/8 in., dimension D is about
• Figure 4 is a magnified detail of circle 4 of Figure 1.
• Figure 4 illustrates the connector 26 assembled into the preferred tent frame 10.
• Figure 4 shows how the ends 58, 60 ofthe base loops 14 as well as the ends 62, 64 ofthe upper loops 18 are inserted into the bore 54 at either end 46, 50 ofthe elongated body 42. While Figure 4 shows ends 62, 58 inserted into the fixed end 46 of the bore 54, since the loops 14, 18 are symmetrical, the exact orientation is immaterial.
• the dimension ofthe bore 54 is such that the loop ends 58, 60, 62, 64 will be entirely retained internally largely by friction between the loops 14, 18 and the body 42.
• the depth of penetration ofthe ends 58, 60, 62, 64 into the bore 54 can be varied but in the preferred embodiment will extend midway as shown in Figure 6.
• the ends 58, 62 are retained inside the fixed end 46 by swaging. This results in a swaging depression 66 close to the end 46. While swaging is the preferred method of fixing, other means of attachment, such as welding or adhesive bonding could also be used, especially if the connector 26 is not made out of an aluminum extrusion.
• Figure 5 is a transverse cross ofthe assembled connector 26 at the location illustrated in Figure 4.
• Figure 5 clearly shows deformation 66 ofthe body 42, as a result of the swaging operation, which secures the ends 58, 62 inside the bore.
• Figure 6 is a longitudinal cross ofthe assembled connector 26 at the location illustrated in Figure 4.
• Figure 6 again shows the deformation 66 ofthe body 42 which traps the end 58 inside the bore 54 at the fixed end 46 ofthe connector 26.
• Figure 6 also shows, schematically, the loose fit ofthe other end 60 inside the bore 54 at the insertable end 50 of the connector 26.
• this end 60 can: be inserted and removed from the bore 54; rotate inside the bore 54; and swivel from side to side. All these motions are shown by arrows on Figure 6.
• the ends 60, 64 are retained inside the bore 54 at the insertable end 50 ofthe connector 26 mainly by friction.
• Figure 7 shows the fully erected tent 86 in accordance with this invention, with the fabric covering 90 draped over and attached to the frame 10.
• attachment is made by means of sleeves 92, sewn into the fabric 90 and clips 94, attached by sewing to the fabric 90.
• the fabric covering 90 is provided with a door 96 and one or more windows 98.
• Figure 8 illustrates connection o the shock strut 22 to the upper loop 18 by means of a conventional twist clip 34, which protrudes through a hole 106 in the fabric 90.
• a conventional twist clip 34 which protrudes through a hole 106 in the fabric 90.
• One of the sleeves 92 is better illustrated in this Figure. Alternate methods of attachment are commercially available.
• FIG 9 illustrates attachment ofthe fabric 90 to the shock strut 22 by means of a C-clip 94.
• the clip 94 is attached to a tab 110 which is sewn on the fabric 90.
• Other conventional methods to make this attachment are available on the marketplace.
• Figure 10 illustrates attachment ofthe shock strut 22 to the base loop 14.
• An eye hook 30 is fastened into the end ofthe shock strut 22.
• This eye hook 30 encircles the loop 14 forming a permanent slidable and rotatable attachment. Sliding and rotational motions are shown by arrows on the Figure.
• This Figure again provides a better illustration of a typical sleeve 92.
• the tent 86 is designed so that, by coiling the frame 10, the tent 86 can be quickly and easily made into a disk for convenient transportation and storage. Storing the tent 86 is accomplished by manually pulling apart the segments 70 ofthe shock struts 22, coiling the frame 10 and securing the tent 86 in this position. When it is desired to use the tent 86, the frame 10 is allowed to assume its unconstrained shape and the segments 70 of the shock struts 22 are manually reassembled. It takes approximately two minutes to erect or flatten the tent 86. While all loops 14, 16, 18, 20 have been described as having particular shapes, other shapes can be used.
• Figure 2 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the frame 10.
• the base loop 16 is an almost complete planar ellipse and the upper loop 20 forms an almost complete saddle shape.
• the base 16 and upper 20 loops are linked via the one connector 26 which is located in the front 11 ofthe frame 10.
• the base 16 and upper 20 loops are fastened to each other by means of a standard clip 38.
• Figures 1 and 2 illustrate embodiments of this invention having only one upper loop 20, or a pair of opposing upper half loops 18, this invention could have two or more upper loops 20 or two or more pairs of opposing upper half-loops 18.

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Citations (8)

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• 1995
  • 1995-10-23 US US08/546,591 patent/US5676168A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 1996
  • 1996-10-23 DK DK96937737T patent/DK0857245T3/da active
  • 1996-10-23 DE DE69627169T patent/DE69627169T2/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1996-10-23 WO PCT/US1996/017065 patent/WO1997015738A1/en active IP Right Grant
  • 1996-10-23 AT AT96937737T patent/ATE236322T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1996-10-23 AU AU75207/96A patent/AU703654B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 1996-10-23 EP EP96937737A patent/EP0857245B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime

Patent Citations (8)

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